Playing Perfect: An Age Gap Sapphic Romance

by Alexa Woods

The office ice queen with too many secrets. The one woman who makes her melt. And the truth that could save them—or destroy them.

After failing her social work exam twice, Ava Gardner’s confidence is hanging by a thread.
Landing a job at the Barnes Foundation feels like a miracle—until she meets her boss.
Fiona is everything Ava isn’ polished, powerful, untouchable.
And yet, behind those sharp heels and colder-than-ice stares, Ava catches glimpses of something else—loneliness. Longing.

To the world, Fiona Barnes is CEO of her family’s elite foundation, Manhattan’s golden girl, engaged to the perfect man.
In truth, her life is a façade—her engagement fake, her desires buried, her every move controlled by her father.

What starts as late nights and stolen smiles turns into something neither woman saw coming. Fiona lets her guard down, and Ava falls—hard.
But their love can’t survive in shadows forever.
When Ava uncovers corruption that could destroy the foundation, both must decide how much they’re willing to risk—for truth, for freedom, and for each other.

This is a standalone spicy F/F age-gap romance novel with a HEA.

Genres: Contemporary

273 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2025

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

for lesbian romance books see Alexa Woods (two spaces)

Reviews

[Maria Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good, love good, reads great!

Wow! Mystery, deception, loss, love, drama, and
redemption. What more could you want? The characters are believable, the situations realistic, the story endearing. Thank you for a great read.

[Kathe]

Believable situations, sympathetic characters . Will there be a sequel that involves Rebecca? You know, the faithful support staffer who knows everything and tells nothing. Great job, Alexa.

One quibble - there are misused words and a few spelling errors that look like the story was transcribed from a recording. Needs editing to keep the narrative flow.

[Sandi D · Rating 4 out of 5]

when it all falls apart..

Family.. decisions are difficult when you know you’ll be disowned and lose everything you’ve worked for. Fiona worked for the family charity under the high expectations of her father. Ava was the new hire who found some discrepancies with paperwork that looked like fraud. From there everything fall apart can it be put back together.

[Erik S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

ALEXA absolutely amazing I love every single thing. The way you wrote this I couldn't put it down. I look forward to Trapped with Her. Keep up the great sexy writing.

[Dawn Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story

Great story! Kept me wanting to read! Good character arcs. Surprise ending and good age gap romance. I really enjoyed it.

[Fifi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great little popcorn read. Sweet and airy.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute.

Moved a little fast for my taste, but overall is was a cute book. I always enjoy a good happy ending.